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English Bulldog Breed Information
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~Temperament~
~Finding A Bulldog~
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~Bulldog History~
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Almost every bulldog has a very good temperament. They are very friendly and loyal, and if they are not, then there is usually a reason that they have become aggressive.
They do not make the best guard dogs, however, if there is something not right- your bulldog will be sure to let you know. If you wish to have a dog that is very protective, this is probably not the dog for you.
While they are puppies, they will bite & chew, and this is normal. They are actually teething, and it feels good to them to bite on everything, even you! As with all dogs, redirection during teething time will help this behavior.
While most bulldogs are very lazy, you may not notice this behavior until they are two years old. As puppies and young adults, bulldogs love to play and are frequently active. If they continue to enjoy activities, they may remain active for most of their lives, but most will become big piles of wrinkles laying in a comfortable spot, usually close to their owner.
Bulldogs are not in the highest level of intelligence when it comes to dogs, (ranked 77 of 79 on Stanley Coren's Intellegence of dogs), but you must also understand that ALL dogs are intellegent. I have never owned one that could not be housebroken, learn basic commands if taught, ect.
Bulldogs are great pets, even for houses with small children or the elderly. With one exception being is that sometimes they do not realize their own strength, so accidents can occur because of their weight and size. My bulldogs are members of our home, and never hurt our children,
even the little babies.
English Bulldogs require daily care. They are very friendly dogs, and require plenty of love and attention from their "humans". This is not a dog that should be left alone for 10 hours a day, and should have plenty of time with its owners on a daily basis.
Wrinkles should be looked at and wiped out daily with a nice clean, warm washcloth. Ears should be cleaned out when you give them a bath. I recommend a bath every one or two weeks. Use good quality oatmeal based or natural shampoo and conditioner so they do not get dried out and start itching. If wrinkles start to become red and swollen, or if they start rubbing their face, you should try to dry out the area with cornstarch and if it does not improve within a couple of days,
you should take them to the vet.
Bulldogs tend to have allergies to many foods, even bulldogs from the very best bloodlines. Giving your bulldog a good high quality dog food is highly recommended. Do not get processed foods from the grocery store! Please visit our forums to see what other bully owners are recommending!
One problem- or blessing, whichever you wish to call it with bulldogs is that they are so darn tough!!! If something is wrong with them, you will not know unless you are paying attention. They need you to watch over them, keep them from harm. You do not want your bully to get overheated, and you want to make sure they eat and drink enough everyday, just as you would for a child. Bulldogs tend to just keep going, and if YOU forget to feed them, or if YOU forget to give them water, they will most likely not even remind you, or show any obvious signs of hunger or thirst. If they get too hot, they will pant, but they will not get out of the sun. Even bulldogs who have just had major surgery or a c-section are ready to play the very next day. So then you have to keep them isolated so they will RELAX! Silly bullies!
Look for signs of odd behaviors. Things they do not do normally, like try to reach or itch somewhere. If they are hurt or sick, you will not know unless you are paying attention. They will most likely not even whimper if they get bit by something or hurt themselves. For example, one day my girl started limping just a little bit, and it ended up that her front shoulder was dislocated. Can you imagine how much it hurt? She did not even whimper, and played as normal, just as if it was any other day. This type of pain may hurt us humans, but not a bulldog!
~Caring For An English Bulldog~
Bulldogs should be primarily indoors. If you wish to have an outdoor dog, you will need to choose a different breed. Bulldogs can get easliy overheated, even in the mildest of weather conditions. They love to sun bathe, and need plenty of water. They should not be left outdoors in the sun for long periods of time. Many bulldog owners lose their bulldogs due to this tragedy.
English Bulldogs have many common health issues. Most reputable breeders try to breed these problems out of their lines, to reduce the likelyhood of their occurence. Here is a list of common issues.
Cherry Eye
Brachycephalic Syndrome
Entropion
Elongated Soft Palate
Tracheal Stenosis
Eye Problems
Allergies
Hypothyroidism
Hip Displyasia
Here is an excellent resource brought to you by Bulldogs of Baltimore, which gives in depth details on all of these common ailments and more. Some of these can be easily corrected, while others can cost you thousands to treat or repair. Visit the Bulldog University link below.
Quoted from the AKC.org webiste:
The Bulldog, to the best of our knowledge, had its origin in the British Isles. The name "bull" was applied because of the dog's use in the sport of bull baiting, which was extremely cruel. The original Bulldog had to be very ferocious and so savage and courageous as to be almost insensitive to pain.
In 1835 dog fighting as a sport became illegal in England. Therefore, the English Bulldog had outlived his usefulness and his days were numbered. However, there were dog lovers who felt deep disappointment at the passing of the breed, and they set themselves the task of preserving it. They proceeded to eliminate the undesirable fierce characteristics and to preserve and accentuate the finer qualities. Within a few generations, the English Bulldog became one of the finest physical specimens, minus its original viciousness.
We may be justly proud of the Bulldog we know today, and we must express our gratitude to our British cousins, who realized the value of the English Bull sufficiently to preserve him for posterity.
~Bulldogs and the Weather~
~Common Medical Problems~
If you would like to show your English Bulldog in the ring, here is the Official Illustrated Bulldog Standard from the Bulldog Club of America
Whether you plan or rescuing or getting a puppy, doing your research prior to choosing an English Bulldog is very important. Please visit the following links for more information on buying or adopting your new friend for life.
~The Official Bulldog Standard~
This video is of the Breed Standard in the UK, it is very informative. The breed weight differs in the USA, where the weight should be around 45lbs for a female and 55lbs for a male.
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